You’ve heard and seen tales of East Harlem blight in the media, right? But in “Superheroes of East Harlem,” the first of an ongoing “Superheroes” project initiated by People’s Production House, 135 ninth graders from the Renaissance Charter HS for Innovation tell it like it really is through audio tales and silkscreened portraits of East Harlem’s community leaders. To create this work, the youth interviewed individuals about the context and the inspiring superheroes that makes their work possible. Interviewees include Ray Ramirez of the Welfare Poets, Earline Fischer, an organizer from Community Voices heard, Deidre Hollman from the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture, Kendrid Smith, Grammy nominated hip hop producer, the poet Jesus Papoleto and Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito.
In case you missed it, check out our photos from the “Superheroes of East Harlem” listening event held on Saturday June 18, 2011 in conjunction with “Super Sabado!,” a free museum day on the third Saturday of every month at El Museo del Barrio. This event took place at Art for Change, a venue in East Harlem.
The listening event featured journalists, local community leaders in dialogue with the students and their work. The public and Renaissance Charter HS for Innovation students worked in collaboration with artist Juan Martinez in a live screenprinting lesson where you could print your own t-shirt or get a limited screenprinted poster!
‘Superheroes of East Harlem’ is a project by Radio Rootz of People’s Production House in collaboration with The Renaissance Charter High School for Innovation, Art for Change, El Museo del Barrio, and Harlem Biennale.
The production team for ‘Superheroes of East Harlem’ included: lead teacher Rachel Falcone, Audio journalist and Co-Founder of ‘Housing is a Human Right’; Jacqueline Kook and Sylvia Guerrero, Co-Directors of Radio Rootz/People’s Production House; Kristal Graham and Sam Lewis, Teaching Assistants and Radio Producers of Radio Rootz/PPH.
HEAR THE HEROES
Benay Chisolm, Community Voices Heard
Audio portrait of Carmen Piñeiro, Community Voices Heard
Audio Portrait of David Giordano, Harlem Children's Aid Society
Audio portrait of Deidre Hollman, Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture
Audio portrait of Earline Fischer, Community Voices Heard
Audio portrait of Johnny Rivera, Harlem RBI
Audio portrait of Kendrid Smith, Grammy nominated hip hop producer
Audio portrait of Lawrence Joyner, artist and Founder of Reconstruct art
Audio portrait of Marina Ortiz, founder of East Harlem Preservation Society
Audio portrait of Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito
Audio portrait of Augustina Gonzalez, Harlem Children's Aid Society
